The Chihuahua |
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The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog. What they lack for in size, they make up for in personality. This energetic, lovable, confident dog wins the hearts of many. It is said they originated from Chihuahua Mexico, where they inherited their name, however it is also said they were a popular breed around the 7th century A.D. (information taken from CKC)
The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) breed standard describes the Chihuahua as compact dog with a saucy expression. The Chihuahua should have a rounded skull, this is where the term “apple head” comes from, with a moderately short muzzle. They should have a level back, slightly longer than tall a display a graceful gait. The Chihuahua is a spirited dog who often becomes very attached to their owners.
Click HERE to read more about the CKC Standard for Chihuahuas
The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) breed standard describes the Chihuahua as compact dog with a saucy expression. The Chihuahua should have a rounded skull, this is where the term “apple head” comes from, with a moderately short muzzle. They should have a level back, slightly longer than tall a display a graceful gait. The Chihuahua is a spirited dog who often becomes very attached to their owners.
Click HERE to read more about the CKC Standard for Chihuahuas
Living With A Chihuahua |
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One of the best things about Chihuahua’s is they can live pretty much anywhere. Apartment or farm, they only care that they are next to their owner at the end of the day!
EXERCISE: It’s important to remember, when considering if a Chihuahua is right for you, they are a breed that does require exercise. Even though their exercise needs are not as much as a large breed, they are a ball of energy! A short walk per day is all that’s really required to keep them happy, but they will go crazy for a game of fetch! My Chihuahua’s love running around our farmyard, car rides and joining me on the kayak.
Another great benefit to walking your Chihuahua daily is it helps to keep them social. Right from a puppy (once FULLY vaccinated of course) you should be exposing your Chihuahua to the outside world. This breed gets a bad rap for being ‘yappy’, ‘aggressive’ or ‘nervous’. Right from a puppy a Chihuahua should be socialized. We take our dogs everywhere! A socialized Chihuahua is a happy Chihuahua.
GROOMING: Chihuahuas are a breed of dog that do shed. Both the long coat and the short coat varieties shed. The short coat Chihuahua does not require much grooming, but I find my short coat dogs do love to be brushed. The long coat Chihuahua does require grooming. The frequency of the grooming requirements depends on the individual pup. Some long-haired Chihuahuas have a thin coat while others may have a thick double coat. On average, once a month grooming is sufficient for the long coat variety, as long as you are brushing them daily. Remember to have your groomer remove the hair in between the pads on their feet. This helps to prevent them from slipping on tile or wood surfaces. Their nails should be done every 3 weeks to help keep them short. A bath once a month is usually sufficient to keep their coats clean and shiny.
POTTY TRAINING: Chihuahuas are often known for being hard to house break. Consistency is the key when house breaking a Chihuahua. Be sure to let your pup out often. Some puppies need to go outside every half hour when awake, some more often. Winter is a little different, when living with a Chihuahua. It is easy to tell Chihuahuas HATE the cold! We always have a puppy pad down as some of our winters get cold (-20’s Canadian winters). We keep an area shoveled and as clear of snow as we can to help encourage them to go outside. It often helps if you go out with them. We find in the winter our Chihuahuas need a little more encouragement, so we carry them outside for their in the winter.
When housebreaking your puppy be sure to make everything positive. Chihuahuas are often a sensitive dog. They do not like to do the “wrong thing”. Offer lots of treats for any milestone. Even if it’s a tiny one. For those who are struggling with house breaking your puppy, we always encourage you to seek out a professional dog trainer in your area. Be sure to get references for them!
KIDS: Chihuahuas LOVE kids, when raised properly. This goes back to the importance of socializing your chihuahua. Whether a Chihuahua meets a toddler or an adult, they should always display a happy and excited nature.
OTHER DOGS: Chihuahuas often do well with other breeds and mix breeds of dogs, as long as the other dog is accepting to a new friend. Our Chihuahuas live alongside our two Border Collies. We do keep very strict rules within our household with our dogs. This helps to keep everyone safe. Some of our house rules for living with both a small and medium sized working breed is; A couch for the Border Collies and a Couch for the Chihuahuas. The small dog food and big dog food are kept separate. We also have an area the Border Collies are able to retreat to if the young Chihuahua's are being bothersome.
Remember, when introducing a new dog to do it slowly. It is also a good idea to consult a professional dog trainer in your area for guidance on how to introduce the new dog properly. It’s NEVER a good idea to bring the puppy home and just put in openly on the floor if you have other dogs in the house.
EXERCISE: It’s important to remember, when considering if a Chihuahua is right for you, they are a breed that does require exercise. Even though their exercise needs are not as much as a large breed, they are a ball of energy! A short walk per day is all that’s really required to keep them happy, but they will go crazy for a game of fetch! My Chihuahua’s love running around our farmyard, car rides and joining me on the kayak.
Another great benefit to walking your Chihuahua daily is it helps to keep them social. Right from a puppy (once FULLY vaccinated of course) you should be exposing your Chihuahua to the outside world. This breed gets a bad rap for being ‘yappy’, ‘aggressive’ or ‘nervous’. Right from a puppy a Chihuahua should be socialized. We take our dogs everywhere! A socialized Chihuahua is a happy Chihuahua.
GROOMING: Chihuahuas are a breed of dog that do shed. Both the long coat and the short coat varieties shed. The short coat Chihuahua does not require much grooming, but I find my short coat dogs do love to be brushed. The long coat Chihuahua does require grooming. The frequency of the grooming requirements depends on the individual pup. Some long-haired Chihuahuas have a thin coat while others may have a thick double coat. On average, once a month grooming is sufficient for the long coat variety, as long as you are brushing them daily. Remember to have your groomer remove the hair in between the pads on their feet. This helps to prevent them from slipping on tile or wood surfaces. Their nails should be done every 3 weeks to help keep them short. A bath once a month is usually sufficient to keep their coats clean and shiny.
POTTY TRAINING: Chihuahuas are often known for being hard to house break. Consistency is the key when house breaking a Chihuahua. Be sure to let your pup out often. Some puppies need to go outside every half hour when awake, some more often. Winter is a little different, when living with a Chihuahua. It is easy to tell Chihuahuas HATE the cold! We always have a puppy pad down as some of our winters get cold (-20’s Canadian winters). We keep an area shoveled and as clear of snow as we can to help encourage them to go outside. It often helps if you go out with them. We find in the winter our Chihuahuas need a little more encouragement, so we carry them outside for their in the winter.
When housebreaking your puppy be sure to make everything positive. Chihuahuas are often a sensitive dog. They do not like to do the “wrong thing”. Offer lots of treats for any milestone. Even if it’s a tiny one. For those who are struggling with house breaking your puppy, we always encourage you to seek out a professional dog trainer in your area. Be sure to get references for them!
KIDS: Chihuahuas LOVE kids, when raised properly. This goes back to the importance of socializing your chihuahua. Whether a Chihuahua meets a toddler or an adult, they should always display a happy and excited nature.
OTHER DOGS: Chihuahuas often do well with other breeds and mix breeds of dogs, as long as the other dog is accepting to a new friend. Our Chihuahuas live alongside our two Border Collies. We do keep very strict rules within our household with our dogs. This helps to keep everyone safe. Some of our house rules for living with both a small and medium sized working breed is; A couch for the Border Collies and a Couch for the Chihuahuas. The small dog food and big dog food are kept separate. We also have an area the Border Collies are able to retreat to if the young Chihuahua's are being bothersome.
Remember, when introducing a new dog to do it slowly. It is also a good idea to consult a professional dog trainer in your area for guidance on how to introduce the new dog properly. It’s NEVER a good idea to bring the puppy home and just put in openly on the floor if you have other dogs in the house.
